Improvement in whiffletree-hooks



O J. SMITH. Whiffletree-Hook.

No. 205,583. Patented July 2,1878.

INVENTOR I JTNESSES .M MZZQ ATTORNEYS. v

UNITED STATES PATENT OEEIoE.

OTIINIEL J. SMITH, OF IVAUIVATOSA, SVISOONSIN.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIFFLETREE- HOOKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 205,583, dated July 2,1878; app i ation file May 15, 1878.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, OTHNIEL J. SMITH, of VVa'uwatosa, in the county ofMilwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and ImprovedWhitfietree-Hook, of which the following is a specification:

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 represents a vertical centralsection on line as m, Fig. 2, of my improved whiffietree-hook; and Fig.3, a vertical transverse section of the same on line y y, Fig. 1.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

This invention relates to an improved whiffietree-hook, by which thetrace may be quickly inserted and retained in reliable manner on thehook, and by which the trace is prevented from unhooking itself; and theinvention consists of a hook projecting from the ferrule at the end ofthe whiffletree, the ferrule and hook being recessed below the hook toform a chamber for inserting a U-shaped spring, that is seated with oneend in the recess, and that bears by its opposite end on the beveled endof the hook.

Referring to the drawing, A represents the ferrule, and B the hook, ofmy improved whiffletree-hook, which is made of malleable iron of theusual size. The ferruleAis provided below the hook with a groove, a, andthe hook B with a semicircular cavity, 1), both groove and eavityforming a chamber, into which a U-shaped bandspring, C, may be inserted.One end of the band-spring is then seated in the groove of the ferrule,the bend of the same in the cavity of the hook, while the opposite endbears on the end of the hook.

13y pressing the spring together between the thumb and forefinger it maybe readily inserted into the chamber formed for it in the ferrule andhook, and by letting it go it secures itself firmly in place, and cannotget out of position.

Should the spring break, it may be readily replaced, as no tools arerequired for removing the old spring and inserting a new one.

The ferrule and hook may be applied to either end of the Whiffletree,and the trace readily placed on the hook by pressing back the springwith the end of the trace.

The book is made with an outer bevel, d, at the end to guide the tracewhen pressing back the spring by the same for inserting it into the eyeformed by the hook and spring.

The hook requires no thread to be cut nor holes drilled, no rivets putin, and is complete when applied, forming a cheap, perfect, and simplesafety hook for whiffletrees of all kinds.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent- The combination of the whiffletree-hook havinga groove in the ferrule and a semicircular cavity in the hook with aU-shaped bandspring sprung into a cavity and bearing by its outer end onthe end of the hook, substantially as described.

OTHNIEL J. SMITH.

\Vitnesses H. F. RosE, WILLIAM SPLITT.

